Lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

A light support portion is interconnected preferably through an adjustable joint to a lower spring means. The lower spring means is interconnected with an upper spring means by an intermediate relatively rigid means preferably a swivel joint connected at an intermediate point thereof. The upper spring means is attached to a support means. The upper spring means is shorter and more rigid than the lower spring means whereby the upper spring means mainly serves to absorb horizontal forces while the lower spring means absorbs both horizontal and vertical forces.

United States Patent 1 Williams 1 May 29, 1973 [54] LIGHTING FIXTURE[76] Inventor: Charles S. Williams, 40l3-49th St.,

Lubbock, Tex. 79413 [22] Filed: July 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 58,622

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.846,000, July 30,

1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..240/78 R, 248/204, 248/317, 0

248/323 [51} Int. Cl. ..F21s1/00 [58] Field of Search ..248/54, 104,126,

248/160, 204, 285, 289, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 333, 78 B, 78 CF, 1,291; 240/8 BD, 8 BG, 85 R, 85 A, 85 B, 85 D, 86, 90; 272/78;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 576,769 2/1897 Williams..248/291 X 926,426 6/1909 Koch ....248/291 X 2,538,655 1/1951 Preston....248/204 X 2,646,950 7/1953 Nelson et al ..248/l 457,687 8/1891Weimer ..248/327 504,866 9/1893 Davenport ..248/160 859,398 7/1907 Marsh..240/85 A 949,962 2/1910 Nichols ..248/358 AA 2,717,141 9/1955Livingston ..248/289 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 214,731 10/1941Switzerland ..240/85 R 432,638 1/1925 Germany ..272/78 640,360 l/1935Germany ..272/78 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney-William D.Hall, Elliott l. Pollock, Fred C. Philpitt, George Vande Sande, CharlesS. Steininger and Robert C. Priddy [57] ABSTRACT A light support portionis interconnected preferably through an adjustable joint to a lowerspring means. The lower spring means is interconnected with an upperspring means by an intermediate relatively rigid means preferably aswivel joint connected at an intermediate point thereof. The upperspring means is attached to a support means. The upper spring means isshorter and more rigid than the lower spring means whereby the upperspring means mainly serves to absorb horizontal forces while the lowerspring means absorbs both horizontal and vertical forces.

22 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 2 Sheets-Sheet l 411 I M ef 19 3 4342/ 52as 60 0C INVENTOR CHARLES S. WILUAMS RNEYS Patented May 29, 1973 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IIO INVENTOR CHARLES S. WILLIAMS ATTORNEY LIGHTINGFIXTURE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present applicationis a continuation-in-part of copending U. S. Pat. Application Ser. No.846,000, filed July 30, 1969 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lightingfixture adapted to be used in locations such as truck terminal docks,warehouses, railroad docks, storage docks, and the like wherein thelighting fixture is exposed and is liable to be accidentally struck byobjects being moved about the immediate vicinity thereof.

In such applications, it is essential to provide an arrangement whereinthe lighting fixture incorporates a support means which provides a shockresistant mounting to protect the lighting fixture as well as any objectwhich may strike the lighting fixture.

The lighting fxture must be capable of absorbing both horizontal andvertical forces applied thereto, and in addition it is desirable toprovide an arrangement whereby the position of the light support portioncan be selectively adjusted so that the beam of light can be aimed toprovide illumination at a desired location.

Various shock resistant lighting fixtures have been provided in theprior art, many such fixtures employing spring means for enablingdeflection of the lighting fixture when force is applied thereto.

In conventional lighting fixtures, a single spring may be provided whichis secured to a rigid conduit either fixedly secured to a junction boxor connected therewith by ball swivel arrangement. When a ball swivelconnection is provided, the fixture is prone to turn in a horizontalplane. The electrical wiring is accordingly twisted so as to sever it orto cause the insulation to wear off thereby resulting in ashort-circuit. This occurs with ball swivel arrangements even thoughthey are keyed and slotted.

In some instances, the rigid conduit is fixedly secured to the junctionbox. If such a conduit is struck or has force applied to it above thespring at the lower end thereof, the conduit is permanently bent out ofalignment since there is no means for absorbing energy applied to theconduit. 7

If the light support portion of the fixture is attached to a rigidconduit which in turn has a single spring disposed thereabove, noprotection is provided against vertical forces applied to the fixture.The light support portion is attached by means of a small rigid conduitportion through which the electrical wires extend. If vertical force isapplied to the light support portion, this conduit portion will break orbend out of alignment thereby rendering the fixture unsafe in thosecases wherein the insulation around the wiring is penetrated or crimped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION connected at an intermediate point thereof.This swivel joint enables the lower part of the fixture to be swivellyadjusted with respect to the upper part thereof so that the position ofthe light support portion can be adjusted through a limited arc ofmovement.

Means is provided for attaching the upper spring means to a supportmeans whereby the entire lighting fixture is adapted to be supported independing vertical relationship from a junction box or the like.

Each of the springs employed in the present invention comprises a closewound spring and the upper spring is more rigid than the lower spring.The two springs may be of the same stiffness, the upper spring beingmore rigid by virtue of the fact that it is of substantially less lengththan the lower spring. It is highly desirable to provide the upperspring with greater rigidity since such an arrangement will cause thelower part of the fixture to be returned to its original position asquickly as possible.

The upper spring serves the function of allowing the fixture to move inany lateral direction when subjected to horizontal forces therebyenabling lateral deflection of the lighting fixture. The lower spring isadapted to absorb both vertical and horizontal forces and in particularaffords protection for the fixture from vertical forces applied theretoand localizes the area of give to preserve the rigidity needed for thevarying length of the device. The length can be readily variedbyaltering the length of the relatively rigid intermediate conduit portionof the fixture.

The bottom spring is of sufl'icient length so that it is capable ofbending double upon itself. The lower spring is capable of holdingapproximately three times the weight of the light support portion andyet it is adapted to flex under a force substantially less than thatrequired to break or bend any portion of the fixture.

It is desirable to provide an arrangement for adjusting the length ofthe relatively rigid intermediate portion of the fixture since indifl'erent applications the light support portion must be supported atvarying distances below a supporting junction box or the like.

The arrangement of the two spaced springs of different rigidity and theintermediate relatively rigid means provides significant advantages. Thesprings are placed at the points where the greatest amount of force isexerted and will reduce the forces most effectively at these points. Thespring action is localized and any reflex action is minimized if thefixture is struck.

The swivel joint which is preferably connected at an intermediate pointin the relatively rigid conduit portion of the fixture ensures a minimumwearing effect on the wiring of the fixture since there is no flexing inthis area of the apparatus, thereby providing maximum protection for theinternal wiring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation partly brokenaway of a lighting fixture according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 4-4 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a modified form of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 6-6 of FIG. looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 7-7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, the fixture shown in FIGS. 1-4, inclusive,includes a housing or reflector 10 which may be formed of spun aluminumor the like and which is sufficiently resilient to bend back into shapeif it is deformed in any manner. A wire bulb guard 12 formed of heavygauge wire is supported at the outer end of the housing to prevent bulbbreakage.

A conventional incandescent bulb 14 is connected with the usual ceramiclight socket 16 supported by the housing. A rigid portion 18 extendingfrom the housing is interconnected with an adjustable joint meansindicated generally by reference numeral 20.

As seen in FIG. 4, the adjustable joint means includes a first portion24 secured to part 18, portion 24 having a plurality of teeth 26 formedalong one edge thereof. A part 28 has a portion 30 secured theretohaving teeth 32 formed along one edge thereof, teeth 26 being in meshingengagement with teeth 32 in the operative position illustrated.

Portions 30 and 24 are provided with aligned holes formed therethroughwhich are adapted to receive a bolt 34 which may have a nut 36 threadedon the outer end thereof. It is apparent that this adjustable jointmeans enables the angular position of the light support portion to beadjusted with respect to the remaining part of the apparatus, whereuponthe joint can be locked in adjusted position and positively held inplace by the meshing teeth 26 and 32.

Part 28 includes an enlarged tubular portion 40 through which extends anelectrical cable 42 operatively connected at its lower end with socket16 to provide electrical current to the bulb within the light supportportion. The upper end of tubular portion 40 is provided with threads onthe outer surface thereof and this threaded upper end is, in turn,threaded into the lower end of an elongated close wound spring 50. In atypical example, spring 50 may have a length on the order of 5 inches.The cable 42 of course extends upwardly within spring 50.

A length of relatively rigid electrical conduit 52 is provided withthreads on the lower end thereof and this lower end is threaded into theupper end of spring 50. In a typical example, conduit portion 52 mayhave a length of approximately 4 inches. Internally threaded caps 54 and56 are threaded about the lower and upper ends respectively of spring50.

The upper end of conduit portion 52 is threaded and interconnected witha union type in-line swivel 60. A further conduit portion 62 is providedwith threads on the lower end thereof whereby this conduit portion isalso interconnected with swivel 60. As seen in FIG. 3, swivel joint 60is of conventional construction and includes a pin 64 connected to onepart of the union and is movable within a slot 66 formed in the otherpart of the union whereby the two parts of the union can rotate throughan angle a of approximately 45 with respect to one another.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the upper end of conduit portion 62 isprovided with threads and is threaded into the lower end of acompression spring 70. A relatively rigid conduit nipple 72 which mayhave a length of approximately 1% inches is threaded throughout thelength thereof and is threaded into the upper end of spring 70. Thisnipple extends upwardly through a suitable hole provided in the baseplate 74 of a conventional electrical junction box 76. Apair of nuts 78and 80 are threaded on nipple 72 to rigidly secure it to the junctionbox.

Electrical cable 42 extends upwardly through the aligned rigid conduitportions and the springs as well as through the intermediate swiveljoint, the cable including a pair of electrical leads and 92 which maybe connected with a suitable source of electrical power within thejunction box in the usual manner. The junction box is adapted to besupported on any suitable supporting means 94.

An internally threaded cap 84 is threaded about the upper end of spring70, and an internally threaded cap 86 is threaded about the lower end ofspring 70.

In a typical example, spring 70 may have a length of approximately 3inches whereby it is of substantially less length than the lower spring52 and, accordingly, of greater rigidity.

Referring now to FIGS 5-8, inclusive, a modified form of the inventionis illustrated. A housing or reflector similar to the previouslydescribed housing 10 is provided with a wire bulb guard 102 to protectthe bulb supported by the housing. A conventional incandescent bulb issupported within the housing, and a rigid portion 104 extends from thehousing and is interconnected with an adjustable joint means indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 106 similar to the adjustable joint means20 previously described.

The adjustable joint means 106 includes a tubular portion 108 the upperend of which is threaded to match the coils of a close wound spring 1 12of the same construction as spring 50 previously described. As in thepreviously described embodiment, an electrical cable 114 is operativelyconnected to the socket for the incandescent bulb within the housing andextends up wardly through tubular portion 108 and spring 112.

The cable includes a pair of electrical leads 116 shown at the upper endthereof which may be connected with a suitable source of electricalpower within a junction box in the usual manner.

A rigid member or nipple 120 is provided with threads 122 on the lowerend thereof which match the spring coils of spring 112. The upper end ofnipple 120 is provided with standard threads 124 on the outer surfacethereof. A slot 126 is formed through the wall of the tubular nipple,and as seen in FIG. 8, this slot extends through an angle )3 ofapproximately 45.

A rigid tubular coupling member 130 is of generally cylindricalconfiguration and has an internal thread formed thereon which is adaptedto be threaded on the external thread on the upper end of nipple 120.Coupling member 130 is additionally adapted to be threaded onto thethreaded lower end of a rigid tubular member or electrical conduit 132.A set screw 136 is threaded through a radially extending hole providedin the wall of coupling member 130, the inner end of the set screw beingpositioned within slot 126 previously described. It is apparent thatthis pin and slot arrangement will enable rotation of the lower portionof the fixture through an angle of approximately 45 with respect to theupper portion thereof since nipple 120 may rotate through such an anglewith respect to the coupling member 130.

The upper end of member 132 is in turn provided with a standard threadwhich is threaded within a tubular coupling member 140 of generallycylindrical configuration and provided with a threaded longitudinal boreextending therethrough. The lower end of a nipple 142 is provided withstandard threads threaded into coupling member 140, while the upper end144 of the nipple is threaded to match the spring coils on a furthercompression spring 150 which may be of the same construction as spring70 previously described. A further nipple or rigid member 72 has thelower end thereof threaded to match the spring coils of spring 70, theupper end of nipple 72 being provided with standard threads 74 whichreceive a pair of nuts 76 to rigidly secure the nipple to a junction box80.

The electrical cable extends upwardly through the various tubularaligned portions of the fixture, and the junction box is adapted to besupported on any suitable supporting means.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a light support portion which includesa light socket, a lower spring means, said light support portion beinginterconnected with said lower spring means and being substantiallyadjacent to said lower spring means, an upper spring means, means forattaching said upper spring means to a support means, an intermediaterelatively rigid means connected between said lower spring means andsaid upper spring means, wherein said intermediate relatively rigidmeans includes a passage for an electrical cable, and an electricalcable passing through said support portion, lower spring means, upperspring means, intermediate relatively rigid means, and operativelyconnected to said socket.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said upper spring means ismore rigid than lower spring means.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said upper spring means is ofless length than said lower spring means.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein each of said spring meanscomprises a close wound spring.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1 which includes an adjustable jointmeans in the interconnection between said light support portion and saidlower spring means for adjusting the angular position of said lightsupport portion with respect to said lower spring means.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 5 wherein said adjustable joint meanscomprises intermeshing teeth, and means for positively locking the jointin a particular -adjusted position.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said intermediate relativelyrigid means includes a pair of rigid members operativelyenga'ged withthe opposite ends of each of said springs, each of said rigid membershaving an end threaded to match the spring coils of said p s 8. Thelighting fixture of claim 7 which includes a coupling member which isconnected to the end of at least one of said rigid members which isopposite the end threaded to match the spring coils.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 8 including a further rigid memberconnected to said coupling member.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 7 including a swivel joint connectedin said intermediate relatively rigid means and comprising a pinconnected to a first rigid member and a slot formed in a second rigidmember for receiving said pin.

11. The lighting fixture of claim 10 wherein said first rigid membercomprises a coupling member connected to the end of said second rigidmember which is opposite the end threaded to match the spring coils.

12. The lighting fixture of claim 11 including a further rigid memberconnected to said coupling member.

13. The lighting fixture of claim 1 which includes a swivel jointconnected to an intermediate portion of said relatively rigid means.

14. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said bottom spring is ofsufficient length so that it is capable of bending double upon itself.

15. The lighting fixture of claim 14 wherein said bottom spring iscapable of holding approximately three times the weight of the lightsupport portion and is adapted to flex under a force substantially lessthan that required to break or bend any portion of the fixture.

16. Thelightingfixture of claim 1 wherein said intermediate relativelyrigid means includes a pair of rigid members, each of which isthreadedly engaged with one of the said spring means.

17. A lighting fixture comprising a light support portion which includesa light socket, a lower spring means, said light support portion beinginterconnected with said lower'spring means, an upper spring means,means for attaching said upper spring means to a support means, anintermediate relatively rigid means connected between said lower springmeans and said upper spring means, wherein said intermediate relativelyrigid means includes a passage for an electrical cable, an electricalcable passing through said support portion, lower spring means, upperspring means, intermediate relatively rigid means, and operativelyconnected to said socket; wherein said upper spring means is more rigidthan said lower spring means.

18. The lighting fixture of claim 17 wherein each of said spring meanscomprises a close wound spring.

19. A lighting fixture comprising a light support por tion whichincludes a light socket, a lower spring means, said light supportportion being interconnected with said lower spring means, an upperspring means, means for attaching said upper spring means to a supportmeans, an intermediate relatively rigid means connected between saidlower spring means and said upper spring means, wherein saidintermediate relatively rigid means includes a passage for an electricalcable, and an electrical cable passing through said support portion,

lowerspring means, upper spring means, intermediately relatively rigidmeans, and operatively connected to said socket; wherein said upperspring means is of less length than said lower spring means.

20. A lighting fixture comprising a light support portion which includesa light socket, a lower spring means, said light support portion beinginterconnected with said lower spring means, an upper spring means,means for attaching said upper spring means to a support means, anintermediate relatively rigid means connected between said lower springmeans and said upper spring means, wherein said intermediate relativelyrigid means includes a passage for an electrical cable, a swivel jointconnected to an intermediate portion of said relatively rigid means, andan electrical cable passing through said support portion, lower springmeans,

8 upper spring means, intermediate relatively rigid means, andoperatively connected to said socket.

21. Apparatus of claim 20 wherein said swivel joint is connected in linewith said relatively rigid means and said spring means in the normaldepending position thereof whereby one part of said relatively rigidmeans is adapted to swivel with respect to another part thereof aboutthe longitudinal axis of said relatively rigid means.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said swivel joint permitsswiveling of one part of said relatively rigid means through a limitedarc of approximately 45 with respect to another part thereof.

# i i i

1. A lighting fixture comprising a light support portion which includesa light socket, a lower spring means, said light support portion beinginterconnected with said lower spring means and being substantiallyadjacent to said lower spring means, an upper spring means, means forattaching said upper spring means to a support means, an intermediaterelatively rigid means connected between said lower spring means andsaid upper spring means, wherein said intermediate relatively rigidmeans includes a passage for an electrical cable, and an electricalcable passing through said support portion, lower spring means, upperspring means, intermediate relatively rigid means, and operativelyconnected to said socket.
 2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 whereinsaid upper spring means is more rigid than lower spring means.
 3. Thelighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said upper spring means is of lesslength than said lower spring means.
 4. The lighting fixture of claim 1wherein each of said spring means comprises a close wound spring.
 5. Thelighting fixture of claim 1 which includes an adjustable joint means inthe interconnection between said light support portion and said lowerspring means for adjusting the angular position of said light supportportion with respect to said lower spring means.
 6. The lighting fixtureof claim 5 wherein said adjustable joint means comprises intermeshingteeth, and means for positively locking the joint in a particularadjusted position.
 7. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein saidintermediate relatively rigid means includes a pair of rigid membersoperatively engaged with the opposite ends of each of said springs, eachof said rigid members having an end threaded to match the spring coilsof said springs.
 8. The lighting fixture of claim 7 which includes acoupling member which is connected to the end of at least one of saidrigid members which is opposite the end threaded to match the springcoils.
 9. The lighting fixture of claim 8 including a further rigidmember connected to said coupling member.
 10. The lighting fixture ofclaim 7 including a swivel joint connected in said intermediaterelatively rigid means and comprising a pin connected to a first rigidmember and a slot formed in a second rigid member for receiving saidpin.
 11. The lighting fixture of claim 10 wherein said first rigidmember comprises a coupling member connected to the end of said secondrigid member which is opposite the end threaded to match the springcoils.
 12. The lighting fixture of claim 11 including a further rigidmember connected to said coupling member.
 13. The lighting fixture ofclaim 1 which includes a swivel joint connected to an intermediateportion of said relatively rigid means.
 14. The lighting fixture ofclaim 1 wherein said bottom spring is of sufficient length so that it iscapable of bending double upon itself.
 15. The lighting fixture of claim14 wherein said bottom spring is capable of holding approximately threetimes the weight of the light support portion and is adapted to flexunder a force substantiAlly less than that required to break or bend anyportion of the fixture.
 16. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein saidintermediate relatively rigid means includes a pair of rigid members,each of which is threadedly engaged with one of the said spring means.17. A lighting fixture comprising a light support portion which includesa light socket, a lower spring means, said light support portion beinginterconnected with said lower spring means, an upper spring means,means for attaching said upper spring means to a support means, anintermediate relatively rigid means connected between said lower springmeans and said upper spring means, wherein said intermediate relativelyrigid means includes a passage for an electrical cable, an electricalcable passing through said support portion, lower spring means, upperspring means, intermediate relatively rigid means, and operativelyconnected to said socket; wherein said upper spring means is more rigidthan said lower spring means.
 18. The lighting fixture of claim 17wherein each of said spring means comprises a close wound spring.
 19. Alighting fixture comprising a light support portion which includes alight socket, a lower spring means, said light support portion beinginterconnected with said lower spring means, an upper spring means,means for attaching said upper spring means to a support means, anintermediate relatively rigid means connected between said lower springmeans and said upper spring means, wherein said intermediate relativelyrigid means includes a passage for an electrical cable, and anelectrical cable passing through said support portion, lower springmeans, upper spring means, intermediately relatively rigid means, andoperatively connected to said socket; wherein said upper spring means isof less length than said lower spring means.
 20. A lighting fixturecomprising a light support portion which includes a light socket, alower spring means, said light support portion being interconnected withsaid lower spring means, an upper spring means, means for attaching saidupper spring means to a support means, an intermediate relatively rigidmeans connected between said lower spring means and said upper springmeans, wherein said intermediate relatively rigid means includes apassage for an electrical cable, a swivel joint connected to anintermediate portion of said relatively rigid means, and an electricalcable passing through said support portion, lower spring means, upperspring means, intermediate relatively rigid means, and operativelyconnected to said socket.
 21. Apparatus of claim 20 wherein said swiveljoint is connected in line with said relatively rigid means and saidspring means in the normal depending position thereof whereby one partof said relatively rigid means is adapted to swivel with respect toanother part thereof about the longitudinal axis of said relativelyrigid means.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said swivel jointpermits swiveling of one part of said relatively rigid means through alimited arc of approximately 45* with respect to another part thereof.